New High Performance Director is aiming high for Irish athletics

ATHENRY native and newly appointed High Performance Director of Athletics Ireland, Paul McNamara, believes that given the explosion in athletics membership in recent years, Ireland as a nation can “kick on” at international level and he adds that the next major track and field star could well come from Galway.

A former three-time national champion, McNamara is no stranger to the local scene having joined Athletics Ireland as a Regional Development Officer in 2006. Since 2013, he been working with Athlone IT’s athletics programme while also managing the AIT Grand Prix.

“Ireland has held its own to a degree but I believe we are ready to kick on because we have had a huge increase in membership in Ireland in the last 10 years, not just at a recreational level. I know that doesn’t have any strong correlation with performance but at juvenile track and field you can already see it,” begins McNamara.

“Our National Juvenile Championships took place indoors the last two weekends and there was some phenomenal talent on display. There really was. There were championship records being broken left, right and centre. So, at grassroots level, we are seeing a massive upsurge in the numbers in juvenile athletics and in a very active coach education programme.”

McNamara outlines there are far more coaches now working at club level than there ever was before while he notes in his home county of Galway he can see the massive volume of work being done in raising standards by coaches, volunteers and administrators throughout the network of clubs.

“In my opinion, that is what will pave the way for our sport to kick on in the next few years and I think those people deserve immense credit,” continues the 41-year-old father of two, adding that it is only a matter of time before the county produces the next Olive Loughnane, Paul Hession or Paul Donovan.

“At present, there are some seriously talented young athletes out there in Galway. As I said, we had our National Indoor Championships here (AIT) the last couple of weekends and there was any amount of Galway winners. And seriously talented Galway winners! It is just a case of offering them the support they need to push on now.”

While some in athletics circles may have been surprised by McNamara’s high profile appointment, Athletics Ireland CEO John Foley explains that the Galway man was an obvious choice given his “drive and commitment” and his “extensive experience of grassroots and elite athletics in Ireland”.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.